Wednesday, October 13, 2010

“There are actually 34 of us,” the nineteen-year-old miner wrote in a letter sent up from the mine on Tuesday, "because God has never left us down here." - was quoted by one of the 33 Chilean miners trapped. Here is the full amazing story behind this now famous quote:

Jimmy Sanchez, one of the 33 Chilean miners who have been trapped for over two months in the San Jose copper-gold mine in the Atacama Desert, would like to make one small correction to all the stories about life in the mine:

“There are actually 34 of us,” the nineteen-year-old miner wrote in a letter sent up from the mine on Tuesday, "because God has never left us down here."
Amid reports of squabbling on the surface among families of the trapped miners, some say things are much calmer underground as everyone prepares for this week’s attempt to bring them back up. The men have worked hard to keep their spirits buoyant during the ordeal, organizing themselves into a community and dividing up their living-room-sized space. Early on, they set aside a space to pray daily, and religious groups have converged on the mine to serve the miner’s spiritual needs. Once a supply line was established, Seventh-Day Adventists sent down mini-Bibles with magnifying glasses; the Jesus Film Project loaded 33 MP3 players with an audio adaptation of the famous JESUS film. A crucifix was sent down in August, and it's said that miners also requested statues of Mary and the saints. The miners signed a flag which was presented to Pope Benedict this weekend.

Christian leaders of various denominations have come to the San Jose mine; the Guardian is rather bemused by all the activity, describing a “surge in religious fervor” as the rescue operation takes shape.

Baptist Press reports that two miners have “made professions of faith” since their entombment started. Pastors are also ministering to the families of the miners, who have camped out nearby.

“In the midst of this catastrophe, God is in control, and it is the Lord who has kept their family members alive," says Marcelo Leiva, pastor of Vallenar Baptist Church in Vallenar, Chile.

The miners are also thinking a lot about their family lives. Esteban Rojas, who never had a church wedding with his wife Jessica Yanez, has proposed again after 25 years. Others have decided to end their “empty” marriages. Miner Johnny Barrios has two women waiting for him topside, both of whom came to the San Jose mine to pray for his return. "Johnny doesn't want to come up," a psychologist working with the minters quipped in the Guardian.

As the hours tick away toward the expected rescue, the families holding vigil at San Jose are far from the only ones praying for the safe and speedy rescue of the 33 men. Spirits are so high that the miners are fighting among themselves about who will be the last to ascend—too many men are volunteering to stay down till the end. They’ve also contacted a lawyer to work out a deal by which they can share profits equally from the story.

Whatever happens when he and his compatriots stand in sunlight once again, Jimmy Sanchez wants to hold on to the lessons he’s learned in the past few months.

“God wanted me to stay here, I don't know, maybe so I change from now on,” Sanchez wrote.”I have thought and I'll change a lot. I have suffered too much and don't want to suffer any more. In the hard moments I was thankful of God because I got a daughter. I expect than when my turn arrives everything will be OK. Hugs for everyone."

Pictured above is a statue of St. Lawrence, patron of miners (and chefs). The statue -- complete with dalmatic, miner's helmet, and lamp -- was carried to the site of the Chile mine accident in August, shortly after the 33 men became trapped. The rescue operation was subsequently dubbed "Operation San Lorenzo."
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

First, who's to say we are good people? The question should be not “Why do bad things happen to good people?” but “Why do good things happen to bad people?” If the fairy godmother tells Cinderella that she can wear her magic gown until midnight, the question should be not “Why not after midnight?” but “Why did I get to wear it at all?” The question is not why the glass of water is half empty but why it is half full, for all goodness is gift. The best people are the ones who are most reluctant to call themselves good people. Sinners think they are saints, but saints know they are Sinners. The best man who ever lived once said, “No one is good but God alone. “
Second, who's to say suffering is all bad? Life without it would produce spoiled brats and tyrants, not joyful saints. Rabbi Abraham Heschel says simply, “The man who has not suffered, what can he possibly know, anyway?” Suffering can work for the greater good of wisdom. It is not true that all things are good, but it is true that “all things work together for good to those who love God.”

Third, who's to say we have to know all God's reasons? Who ever promised us all the answers? Animals can't understand much about us; why should we be able to understand everything about God? The obvious point of the Book of Job, the world's greatest exploration of the problem of evil, is that we just don't know what God is up to. What a hard lesson to learn: Lesson One, that we are ignorant, that we are infants! No wonder Socrates was declared by the Delphic oracle to be the wisest man in the world. He interpreted that declaration to mean that he alone knew that he did not have wisdom, and that was true wisdom for man.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

LIFT UP YOUR HANDS
by Basil Valdez
Life is not all that bad, my friend, hmmm
If you believe in yourself
If you believe there's Someone
Who walks through life without you
You'll never be alone
Just learn to reach out,
And open your heart
Lift up hands to God,
And He'll show you the way.

And He said, "Cast your burdens upon Me
Those who are heavily laden,
Come to Me, all of you who are tired
Of carrying heavy loads,
For the yoke I will give you is easy
And My burden is light,
Come to Me and I will give you rest."

When you feel the world
Is tumblin' down on you,
And you have no one
That you can hold on to,
Just face the rising sun
And you'll see hope,
And there's no need to run
Lift up your hands to God,
And He'll make you feel all right.

And He said, "Cast your burdens upon Me
Those who are heavily laden,
Come to Me, all of you who are tired
Of carrying heavy loads,
For the yoke I will give you is easy
And My burden is light,
Come to Me and I will give you rest."

Thursday, October 7, 2010

G C D G C D7
I the Lord of Sea and Sky I have heard my people cry
G C Am D
All who dwell in dark and sin, my hands will save
G C D G C D
I who made the stars of night I will make their darkness bright
G C Am D
Who will bear my light to them Whom shall I send?

G Em
Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?
G F D7
I have heard you calling in the night
G Em
I will go Lord if you lead me
G D7 G
I will hold your people in my heart

G C D G C D7
I the Lord of snow and rain I have borne my people's pain
G C Am D
I have wept for love of them, They turn away
G C D G C D7
I will break their heart of stone, give them hearts for love alone
G C Am D7
I will speak my word for them , whom shall I send?

G C D G C D7
I the Lord of wind and flame I will tend the poor and lame
G C Am D
I will set a feast for them, my hand will same
G C D G C D7
Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied
G C Am D7
I will give my life to them , whom shall I send?

Monday, October 4, 2010

Heavenly Father, out of love you have created us. That merciful love keeps us from day to day. From Your Divine Providence we have received the food we are about to take. Bless us and these Your gifts. Give food to those who are hungry and, to us who have food, give hunger to serve You ever most generously in the person of our neighbor. Amen

Prayer After Meals:

Father of mercy, we thank You for Your kindness. Gifts without measure flow from Your goodness and the meal we have just partaken will renew our strength to continue serving You in our life's journey until we reach the joy You have prepared for us. Amen.

Faith Resource:

Chances are, you’ve seen the ads on NET TV from the Catholics Come Home campaign – a series of spots aimed at bringing people into the Catholic Church. The spots may seem new, but the very first Catholics Come Home ads aired in 1998. Since then, the campaign success has been nothing less than phenomenal. The people behind it claim it’s brought one hundred thousand Catholics back to the Church.

"Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will. " - St Ignatius de LoyolaLearn more about the powerful Ignatian Spirituality